Muzzleloading shotgun with choke

ABSTRACT

A muzzleloading shotgun has a barrel with a constant inside diameter that flares outwardly a short distance from the muzzle to a constant diameter. The muzzle end of the barrel has exterior threads which receive the interior threads of a choke. The choke has an internal diameter that tapers inwardly as it progresses from the end of the barrel to the end of the choke. The flared portion of the shotgun barrel allows the shot pattern to expand as it approaches the discharge end of the barrel. The shot within the constant diameter portion of the barrel becomes condensed as it moves outwardly through the choke to achieve the desired concentrated shot pattern. Because the choke is tapered from the enlarged diameter created by the flared portion of the barrel, to a narrower portion at the discharge end thereof, the effective internal diameter of the choke at its discharge end is still large enough to permit the shotgun to be reloaded through that end without the removal of the choke from the shotgun barrel.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to a muzzleloading shotgun with a chokethat will condense the shot pattern, but which will still permit theshotgun to be loaded through the muzzle without removing the choke.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] There is a need to place chokes on muzzleloading shotguns just asthere is with any conventional shotgun. However, by decreasing theeffective diameter of the muzzleloading barrel at its discharge end, byplacing a choke thereon, it is commonly not possible to reload theshotgun through the muzzle without first removing the choke. This is aninconvenient and time-consuming task, particularly when conducted in thehunting field.

[0003] It is therefore a principal object of this invention to provide amuzzleloading shotgun with a choke which will effectively condense theshot pattern, but which has a sufficient diameter that the shotgun canbe reloaded without having to remove the choke because of its restricteddiameter.

[0004] A further object of the invention is to provide a muzzleloadingshotgun with a choke which is easily installed and cleaned.

[0005] These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in theart.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] A muzzleloading shotgun has a barrel with a constant insidediameter that flares outwardly a short distance from the muzzle to aconstant diameter. The muzzle end of the barrel has exterior threadswhich receive the interior threads of a choke. The choke has an internaldiameter that tapers inwardly as it progresses from the end of thebarrel to the end of the choke. The flared portion of the shotgun barrelallows the shot pattern to expand as it approaches the discharge end ofthe barrel. The shot within the constant diameter portion of the barrelbecomes condensed as it moves outwardly through the choke to achieve thedesired concentrated shot pattern. Because the choke is tapered from theenlarged diameter created by the flared portion of the barrel, to anarrower portion at the discharge end thereof, the effective internaldiameter of the choke at its discharge end is still large enough topermit the shotgun to be reloaded through that end without the removalof the choke from the shotgun barrel.

A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007]FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a muzzleloading shotgun barrel ofthis invention with the choke tube attached to the discharge end of thebarrel;

[0008]FIG. 2 is an enlarged scale end elevational view of the inventionas viewed from the right-hand end of FIG. 1;

[0009]FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the choke;

[0010]FIG. 4 is a side or top elevational view of the choke at anenlarged scale; and

[0011]FIG. 5 is an exploded sectional view of the choke about to beplaced on the end of the shotgun barrel.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0012] With reference to FIG. 1, the muzzleloading shotgun 10 has abarrel 12 with the substantial rearward portion of the barrel having aninternal constant diameter 14. That diameter is typically 0.728 inches.The outer diameter 15 of the barrel is constant through its length. Thedischarge end of the barrel is represented by the numeral 16. Towardsthe end of the barrel 16, the constant diameter portion 14 of the barrelis increased through the tapered portion 18 from diameter 20 to diameter22. The diameter 20 typically would be 0.728 inches and the diameter 22would be typically 0.820 inches. The diameter 22 then becomes of aconstant value in portion 24 until that portion terminates into anexternally threaded portion 26.

[0013] The choke 28 of this invention has a connection end 30 and adischarge end 32. The internal diameter of choke 28 has internal threads34 adjacent the connection end 30 which are compatible with the externalthreads 26 on the end of barrel 12. With reference to FIG. 1, when thechoke is installed in threaded condition on the end of barrel 12, atapered bore 36 extends from the end 16 of barrel 12 to the dischargeend 32 of the choke. The outer diameter 38 of the choke is of constantdiameter and is essentially the same as the external diameter of thebarrel 12.

[0014] The tapered bore 36 in choke 28 narrows from a diameter of 0.820inches adjacent end 16 of the barrel 12 to an internal diameter of 0.722inches at the discharge end 32. Thus, the diameter of the choke at end32 is very close to being the same as the internal diameter portion 14of barrel 12. In operation, when the shotgun is fired, the shot movesdown the barrel 12 through the portion 14 and then expands in portion 18to a greater diameter, namely, approximately 0.820 inches as it entersthe constant diameter portion 24. When the shot moves from the end ofthe barrel 16, the shot pattern begins to decrease as it moves outwardlythrough the tapered bore 36 of the choke 28. This results in the shotbeing condensed and achieves the primary purpose of the choke 28.

[0015] It is very important to note, however, that the discharge end 32of the choke is substantially the same as the internal diameter ofportion 14 of barrel 12 so that the shotgun can be reloaded through thedischarge end 32 without having to remove the choke 28 from the end ofbarrel 12. The enlarged diameter of the end of the choke 32 is achievedby reason of the flare that occurs in the internal diameter of theshotgun barrel as described above in regard to tapered portion 18 andenlarged internal diameter portion 24.

[0016] It should also be noted that since the choke 28 can be threadablymounted on the exterior threaded surface of the barrel 12, (via threads26) the choke does not in any way decrease the effective diameter of thebarrel 12.

[0017] Most of the outer diameter surface 38 of the choke is knurled soas to give the operator a comfortable and effective handhold when thechoke is installed or removed.

[0018] It is therefore seen that this invention will achieve at leastall of its stated objectives.

What is claimed:
 1. A choke tube for attachment to an externallythreaded discharge end of a barrel of a firearm for obtaining dense shotpatterns, comprising; a cylindrical body having a center bore andopposite open first and second ends; the bore being tapered andnarrowing from a diameter at the first end to a smaller diameter at thesecond end; and internal threads located in the bore adjacent the firstend for threadably engaging an outside diameter of the discharge end ofa firearm barrel.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein an outer surfaceof the cylindrical body is knurled.
 3. A muzzleloading shotgun having anelongated hollow barrel, comprising, the hollow barrel having a receiverend and a discharge end with internal diameters, the internal diameterof the hollow barrel being longitudinally tapered outwardly adjacent thedischarge end and thence terminating in a portion of constant increaseddiameter, a choke having an inwardly tapered bore extending outwardlyand inwardly from the discharge end of the barrel to a discharge end ofthe choke, the discharge end of the choke being substantially the sameas the internal diameter of the barrel adjacent its receiver end topermit any shot loads that can be received in the receiver end of thebarrel to also be placed within the discharge end of the choke so thatthe choke will not have to be removed from the barrel to reload theshotgun through the discharge end of the barrel.
 4. The device of claim3 wherein external threads on the end of the barrel receive internalthreads on an adjacent end of the choke to hold the choke on the barrel.5. The device of claim 3 wherein the barrel and the choke have externaldiameters that are approximately equal.
 6. The device of claim 3 whereinthe internal diameter of the discharge end of the choke is approximately0.722 inches and the internal diameter of the receiver end of the barrelis approximately 0.728 inches.
 7. The device of claim 6 wherein theportion of constant diameter is approximately 0.820 inches.